LONDON, December 23, 2009 (WAFA)- A vigil will take place outside the Israeli Embassy in London, to mark the 1st anniversary of the Israeli Offensive against the Gaza Strip. It’ll take place exactly one year to the day when Israel started its devastating bombing of Gaza, on December 27, 2009.
MPs including Martin Linton and Jeremy Corbyn will be joining the vigil, which will call for an end to Israel’s siege on Gaza, and for Israeli war criminals to be brought to justice, Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PCS) said.
General Secretary of Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Betty Hunter, said: ‘In Gaza, Palestinians are living a desperate life, surviving another bitter winter in the ruins of their destroyed homes, with the Israeli government denying them the necessary food, medical and even reconstruction materials. Israel’s massacre of over 1400 Palestinians in less than a month last year shocked the world. But it also created a sea-change in support for the Palestinian call for peace and justice. The Israeli army’s rampage of death and destruction further devastated a society which had endured an illegal and inhuman siege. This is why we are also participating in the third Convoy to Gaza, jointly with Viva Palestina, in order to raise awareness of the siege, and to send vital medical supplies. It is barbaric that the Israeli government can lay siege to 1.5 million people in Gaza without international governments taking action to force Israel to abide by international law. The British government must force Israel to end its siege, implement the Goldstone Report, and bring Israeli war criminals to justice.’
The vigil has been called by the PSC, British Muslim Initiative, Stop the War Coalition and CND, and supported by Amos Trust, Communication Workers Union, Fire Brigades Union, Friends of Al Aqsa, Friends of Lebanon, Greater London UNISON, The Green Party, ICAHD UK, IJAN – the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, Islamic Forum Europe, Jewish Socialists' Group, Labor Friends of Palestine and the Middle East, Muslim Association of Britain, Palestinian Return Centre, The Peace Cycle, Public and Commercial Services Union, Rail, Maritime and Transport Union, Thompsons Solicitors, War on Want, Young Muslim Organization UK.
The Convoy to Gaza, jointly organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Viva Palestina, set off on 6 December from London, and has travelled through France, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Syria and Jordan. It is planning to enter Gaza through Egypt on 27 December.
